Heathrow T5 - Mixed Signals

[Jsimon]

Me and my wife regularly travel for work and leisure. I often pop in to Rolex to have a chat (as my wife managed to purchase in May from T5) and see if they have any stock on the off chance.

I must say, today the service was pretty rude. I asked if they have any SS models in stock? Their response was pretty abrupt “no it’s allocation only”. My wife has asked several times saying before and they we only sell to walk in customers as soon as the watch hits the shop.

However in Nov 2018 I was told its allocation only and you’ll have to put your name on a list and you have a good chance as you’re returning customer so I did (for a hulk). They also said email a week before your flight and we will see what we can do. Then my wife emails before she was flying and got no response. When she visited them they said they’ve heard no such thing.

So today I challenged them saying we are getting told different things, sometimes allocation and most times walk in. They stuttered and said the policy changes every week?!

Just wanted to get everyone else’s thoughts on this? I guess they’re just pulling the wool over my eyes and didn’t have any intention to sell to me.... ever.

[Andad]

The policy is for the AD to make and for you to accept or decline I suppose?

Seems to be common practice.

[Rocket launcher]

If you don't like it don't shop there..
There are plenty of other ADs

[Xtralarg]

Another AD who requires you to be a servile minion. Unless this describes you and/or your wife then just walk on by.

[Zakalwe]

There have been posters occasionally on here who apparently have managed to get lucky and score a hot reference as a walk-in customer at a Heathrow AD with no history. My understanding was that they didn’t allocate pieces, though that is relatively old information.

More recently a poster claimed, IIRC, to have scored a watch (possibly an LVc) bundling it with another watch purchase, which would imply that they are holding onto the watches now rather than selling to just anyone.

It’s not an excuse for rudeness, but if I were running a Heathrow AD I would ruthlessly push selling SS Professional watches in a bundle only, or to high spending return customers. It makes sense from a business perspective, even more so given the discounts available in those particular locations.

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by Rocket launcher

If you don't like it don't shop there..
There are plenty of other ADs

What I'm thinking.

[Rolex Essex]

Originally Posted by Rocket launcher

If you don't like it don't shop there..
There are plenty of other ADs

Unfortunately with tax free price it’s hard to ignore the airport ADs.

[Fleetlord]

I suggest writing a letter to someone regarding something.

[tyler1980]

when dealing in tax free sales which represent a huge discount you have even less leverage then you do in an AD in the city of London. WoS is notoriously difficult to deal with, the airport is no exception.

I was in the regent street store and they had a black DSSD in the case (last week). I casually asked about it and they said they will sell it, but you have to fill out an expression of interest form FIRST. then they run your name past corporate, cross check buying history and any other WL you may be on. Keep the warranty card for a year and THEN sell you the watch.

It was on display, not a WL piece

[Uggi]

Originally Posted by Fleetlord

I suggest writing a letter to someone regarding something.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by Rocket launcher

If you don't like it don't shop there..
There are plenty of other ADs

not really. its probably 60% of the AD's in London as far as who owns that AD ... and we have a lot of AD's.

[Rocket_Man]

Are you possibly mis interpreting what they mean by 'Allocation?' I don't think they mean the watches are allocated to specific customers, but that Rolex only allocates a certain number to them, so there is no regular stock.

[DP63]

I very regularly travel through T5, occasionally via CDG in Paris, depending on some destinations, and I've found the T5 AD to be .... a bit .. "up" themselves ... to be blunt, very condesending SA's. They lost a sale with their attitude in 2018 with me, I ended up buying a DJ from my AD back home due to their attitude, and this was at a time when DJ's were all they had on display.

The CDG AD by comparison is one of the easier airport Rolex dealers to walk in and browse, empty cases like everywhere else, granted, but always at the very least, polite and cheerful, even getting a "good morning" from the T5 SA's seems to be a chore, I always get the impression that they busy themselves with nonscense (like polishing empty cases as if the store has just opened) instead of actually speak with customers.

For clarity, I'm always well presented for travelling as its not unusual to be sat next to a client either in the lounge or for the journey, so its not like the excuse of them judging a book by its cover can be granted, I am also more often than not, wearing my SD, so it should be obvious that there is the potential to make a sale.

[Jsimon]

Originally Posted by Rocket_Man

Are you possibly mis interpreting what they mean by 'Allocation?' I don't think they mean the watches are allocated to specific customers, but that Rolex only allocates a certain number to them, so there is no regular stock.

They meant allocation in that we can take your name down and put you on a list.

I just wanted to see what others were being told and being treated.

I didn’t know that there are other ADs as well - thanks for pointing that out.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by Rocket_Man

Are you possibly mis interpreting what they mean by 'Allocation?' I don't think they mean the watches are allocated to specific customers, but that Rolex only allocates a certain number to them, so there is no regular stock.

not really. read my post above. In the main store on Regent street...you cannot just buy a professional watch because its on display, available for sale, and no one on the WL. You still have to fill out paperwork and get "approved" then you can buy it. IE its allocated to You. Its a lot different than seeing a watch on display, handing them money, and walking out.

I was in there seriously considering a Pt daytona. And NO i couldn't hand over the money and walk out with that one either. I still had to fill out an expression of interest form and they had to get the OK from corporate. And they keep warranty cards for those too FYI

[Horationelson]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

not really. read my post above. In the main store on Regent street...you cannot just buy a professional watch because its on display, available for sale, and no one on the WL. You still have to fill out paperwork and get "approved" then you can buy it. IE its allocated to You. Its a lot different than seeing a watch on display, handing them money, and walking out.

I was in there seriously considering a Pt daytona. And NO i couldn't hand over the money and walk out with that one either. I still had to fill out an expression of interest form and they had to get the OK from corporate. And they keep warranty cards for those too FYI

This explains my experience a few weeks ago when I tried to buy a Milgauss from their Oxford Street store having travelled across from the City at lunch when Royal Exchange said one was in stock there - I was sent away and called back about 5 mins later, to which I gave the proverbial finger. As you say, literally means that you cannot walk in and buy a watch even if it is in stock, on display and has no waitlist. That is just absurd.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by Horationelson

This explains my experience a few weeks ago when I tried to buy a Milgauss from their Oxford Street store having travelled across from the City at lunch when Royal Exchange said one was in stock there - I was sent away and called back about 5 mins later, to which I gave the proverbial finger. As you say, literally means that you cannot walk in and buy a watch even if it is in stock, on display and has no waitlist. That is just absurd.

i agree its absurd. It makes total sense now though. I remember that thread... still hanging around on page 1 too

The result is still the same but at least you know why they did that. They were probably not being rude, they were getting approval.

[Puffy]

Don't worry mate, it's been rude since 2008

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by Puffy

Don't worry mate, it's been rude since 2008

first post in a year

welcome back

[bobabreath]

So who are they selling to then? If you've successfully bought a SS Rolex from this AD, can you please report here and tell us your secret?

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by bobabreath

So who are they selling to then? If you've successfully bought a SS Rolex from this AD, can you please report here and tell us your secret?

you can buy them. They just need to run your info first. Make sure you are not blacklisted, make sure you are not buying the same watch more than once, make sure you are not on multiple WL's. etc.

They are a huge group and probably have more than half of the UK market share so if you buy a watch then odds are you bought it from them.

Thats how they have chosen to operate to combat flipping. I dont agree with it, but when you are that big it doesn't give you many other options if you dont like it. Rolex seems to favor large corporate AD's vs small mom and pop shops so its only going to get worse as far as big chains getting bigger and giving customers less options. Is it really a choice if the Boutique at the airport & Bond Street, all the WOS, all the Goldsmith's, and all the Mappin & Webb's are owned by the same company?

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

when dealing in tax free sales which represent a huge discount you have even less leverage then you do in an AD in the city of London. WoS is notoriously difficult to deal with, the airport is no exception.

I was in the regent street store and they had a black DSSD in the case (last week). I casually asked about it and they said they will sell it, but you have to fill out an expression of interest form FIRST. then they run your name past corporate, cross check buying history and any other WL you may be on. Keep the warranty card for a year and THEN sell you the watch.

It was on display, not a WL piece

I believe this is UK wide WOS policy now unless you are an existing customer

[Alex Ks]

T5 Rolex store is awful. Don’t even bother going there.

[kearez]

Heard the same stories from T5, my mother interested in a DJ think 31 or 34, diamonds etc, enquirered about it was told that’s no problem we can order it for you and you pick up your next trip.

On the way back spoke to them again said no you will just have to hope we have it in stock when you pass through.

Can be as bad as FCO, were i was completely ignored, the looked me up and down, and the sales associates when back to talking. I understand im in my mid to late 20s but I was wearing my DJ and a moncler polo, but guess I didn’t pass the test!

[jaydav2306]

Kind of ironic isn't it that ADs are trying to stop regular joes from flipping watches when it's these same ADs that are selling all the hot SS models direct to the grey market, mentioned this some time ago I was in WOS in regent street where the nice chinese Rolex sales lady was selling a BLNR direct to a known grey dealer, that watch was on instagram for sale before he even left the shop.

Removing stickers. keeping the warranty cards, keeping the green hang tags these ADs are laughing in the faces of regular customers and will certainly put me off from buying another Rolex, and why I stepped up to AP. ADs simply do want regular joe business

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by Devildog

I believe this is UK wide WOS policy now unless you are an existing customer

group wide AFAIK. Not just WoS


Im an existing customer, not recently though, but I have bought enough in the past that i still get invited to events. They are still trying to keep the card and make me apply for a non WL and non flippable watch that is in stock though.

[codecow]

This is an outrage!

[037]

Originally Posted by Fleetlord

I suggest writing a letter to someone regarding something.

You just read it above.

[delboylee]

Seems annoying, especially for a Heathrow AD. Did you see the other post where a guy got the Milgauss just last week from T2

[Jsimon]

Originally Posted by delboylee

Seems annoying, especially for a Heathrow AD. Did you see the other post where a guy got the Milgauss just last week from T2

Yes I did see this.

To all the other people taking my post wrongly. Don’t be mistaken, I’m not outraged or disgusted that I’m not being allowed to spend over £6k on a watch.

I would just rather know whether to, get on a list and don’t bother walking in, or not be on a “list” and try my luck walking in. It seems underhand to not be clear on a policy and be given different messages. Hence why I wanted to know what others are being told.

I managed to secure my two watches by pure luck.